Action Research as a Methodological Framework
This project is grounded in action research, which McNiff and Whitehead describe as a form of practitioner-led inquiry where educators seek to improve their own practice through cycles of action and reflection. They define action research as “a disciplined process of inquiry conducted by practitioners to improve their practice” (McNiff and Whitehead, 2011, p. 7). This definition closely aligns with my position as both a learning technologist and educator, researching a problem that emerges directly from my everyday teaching and technical support work.
The project follows a simplified action research cycle:
- Observe: Students repeatedly struggle to select appropriate software for specific tasks, leading to inefficiency and frustration.
- Plan: Design a visual, accessible digital resource (video, roadmap, and quick-search tool) that clarifies digital workflows.
- Act: Share a prototype of Digital Journeys
- Reflect: Gather student and staff feedback through surveys and interpret this data to refine the resource.
McNiff and Whitehead emphasise that action research is values-driven, arguing that practitioners should make explicit the values informing their work, such as inclusion and social justice. They state that “action research is rooted in the idea of people taking responsibility for improving their own practices” (McNiff and Whitehead, 2011, p. 9). In my project, this responsibility is closely tied to addressing inequities in digital literacy, where students with less prior exposure to creative software may be disadvantaged by opaque or overly academic learning materials.
Reflexivity and the Researcher’s Role
A key consideration in this project is my dual role as educator and researcher. McNiff and Whitehead emphasise reflexivity as central to action research, arguing that researchers must ask not only what works, but why it works and for whom (McNiff and Whitehead, 2011). To address this, I am explicitly acknowledging my positionality and documenting how my assumptions influence theme development and interpretation.
Bibliography
Braun, V. and Clarke, V. (2021) Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide. London: SAGE.
McNiff, J. and Whitehead, J. (2011) You and Your Action Research Project. 3rd edn. London: Routledge.